Victor Davis Hanson
American Greatness
In the last two weeks, Kamala Harris has been trying to revive her stagnant campaign by smearing Trump as being Hitlerian and a fascist. She claims Trump is planning to put his enemies in encampments.
Yet in the modern era, it was not Trump who put large numbers of U.S. residents and citizens into “relocation camps,” but liberal Democrat President Franklin D. Roosevelt who sent Japanese-American citizens and residents into them.
If Harris refers to Trump’s supposed fascist policies during his prior four-year tenure, there is no such evidence.
Nonetheless, the once “joyful” Harris is ending her campaign by trafficking in lies and smears reminiscent of the Joe McCarthy era.
Recall that fascists hijack law enforcement and the military to suspend constitutional rights and punish enemies. But Trump did neither.
Instead, in 2016, a corrupt FBI went after Trump himself during the Obama administration with the bogus Steele dossier.
The FBI, which in 2016 had hired the faker Steele, in 2020, fused with social media to suppress accurate news reporting of the embarrassing Hunter Biden laptop scandal.
A number of FBI directors and intelligence officials—John Brennan, James Clapper, James Comey, Andrew McCabe—who openly sought to destroy Trump had a long history of either lying or feigning amnesia under oath.
Fascists try to warp the legal system. But Trump’s own Justice Department selected an independent special counsel to investigate the invented Russian collusion accusations against him.
In vast contrast, the Biden Justice Department coordinated with Georgia prosecutors Fani Willis and Nathan Wade, special counsel Jack Smith, Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg, and New York Attorney General Letitia James to prosecute Trump, bankrupt him, and keep off the campaign trail.
Fascists use their governments to destroy their enemies.
During Trump’s term, for the first time in history, the House of Representatives impeached a first-term president twice. And in another first, the Senate tried Trump as a private citizen.
A self-styled “anonymous” federal official bragged openly of deliberately, and likely unlawfully, leading a bureaucratic cabal to sabotage Trump’s lawful executive orders.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, in collusion with other bureaucrats, deliberately leaked a classified presidential phone call in an effort to ensure that Trump was impeached.
Fascists seek to change existing laws to destroy opponents and illegally consolidate power.
Currently, it is only the Democrats who seek to pack the court, destroy the Electoral College, end the Senate filibuster, and create two new states and thus gain four left-wing senators.
In key states, they radically changed voting laws.
As a result, roughly 70 percent of voters in 2020 did not cast their ballots in person on Election Day—even as the traditional rejection rates for fraudulent ballots mysteriously dived amid the influx.
Fascists arbitrarily nullify any laws they feel do not aid their agendas. Biden-Harris destroyed immigration law in order to bring in more than 12 million illegal aliens and gain new constituencies.
They also protected sanctuary cities, as some 600 such jurisdictions illegally and with impunity nullified federal immigration laws in neo-Confederate fashion.
Fascists seek to politicize the military.
But in Trump’s case, his former chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Mark Milley, brazenly violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice by libeling Trump as a fascist.
Worse still, Milley sabotaged the chain of command by ordering theater commanders to report directly to him in times of serious crises.
And in near-treasonous fashion, Milley contacted his Chinese communist counterpart in the People’s Liberation Army to assure him that he would warn the Chinese military before carrying out any Trump order he felt existentially dangerous.
Some of the most prominent retired four-star military officers—again in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice—publicly smeared Trump as a coward, liar, fascist, Hitler-like, a Mussolini, a creator of Auschwitz-like death camps, and worthy of being removed “the sooner the better.”
Fascists seek to control and weaponize the media. So, Facebook and Twitter both conspired with the FBI to censure news accounts favorable to Trump. The major newspapers, social media corporations, television networks, and public broadcasting systematically and continually attacked Trump, censured his supporters, and fused with his opponents.
Why then the charges of Trump the fascist and Hitler reincarnation?
Simple. Harris’s personal negatives are rising, her polls inert.
She has abandoned her prior run-out-the-clock avoidance of the media, her smiley “joy” campaign, and instead now embraces the big lie, while Joe Biden writes off Trump supporters as “garbage”.
Harris is now confirming to voters that she really can neither think nor speak well and has no consistent agenda that appeals to the middle class.
So, in final desperation, Harris is smearing Trump as a fascist, even though ironically, he has been the target of fascist machinations from her own party and supporters for nearly a decade.
Amen.
Kamala Harris is left with nothing but rage, my view. It is a sad state that our nation can ignore the votes of ~14M Democrat primary votes and install this woman as the Democrat candidate.
Sadder still is that anyone, no matter their distaste of Trump, can vote for her….
The “Don’t you see those impressive clothes” effort is wearing very, very thin.
Kamala and company crying “fascist” are innocent of European history.
I wonder if Biden’s ‘garbage’ comment wasn’t purposefully done. As we are in the midst of subterfuge, is it beyond the pale to think that Jill Biden is furious with regard to the obvious coup against her husband? Yes, we all know that Biden was incapable during the entirety of his presidency. If Tucker Carlson’s information is correct, Biden was actually diagnosed with dementia in 2019. Neverthelss, this did not affect the ‘joy’ with which Jill Biden pursued and portrayed, her role as First Lady. I have a sneaking suspicion that, in private chambers, Jill Biden is fuming at what the powers that be have done to her dream, and her husband. I wouldn’t put it past the Biden clan to attempt to sabotage whatever (hopefully minimal) chance Harris has at becoming president and destroying the US.
I agree that Dr Jill is likely extremely pissed.
However, we are talking about Joe Biden here.
I do not believe he has the mental capacity to pull off a well-timed, campaign-killing move like this one. It was perfect.
However, he is destined for the trash bin of history.
We call that a button. You may laugh now.
Regarding the Biden administration as a whole, consider Trump sitting in the trash truck: Garbage in, garbage out.
That would be button #2.
I agree Jim …. Old dementia Joe isn’t capable of pulling off a planned statement on his own or even with Jill whispering in his ear before hand. Like many Dementia patients they are quick to anger and when the slightest thing triggers them they will blurt out what is often their deepest thoughts … Even in the earlier part of his stint as POTUS you could sense his hatred of DJT and his supporters . He literally and truly believer they are all low life deplorables ….. which was probably stuck in his head from when HRC said it . It scares me to know that our current commander of the military is most likely a bunch of war mongering Generals and WH admin bureaucrats when we are literally on the precipice of WW3 !!
I think the Democratic Cabal, Nancy, Chuck, Barrack realized in the Spring that Joe should agree to drop out of the race. Suddenly he was on air again spewing stupid gaffes. When that didn’t convince him, he was set up with the debate to humiliate himself once and for all. But that didn’t work, he still refused to bow out. They put a lot of pressure, maybe pointing out that he couldn’t consider pardoning his son if he was still running. Anyway he got even by “appointing” his VP and now continues his recenge by undermining her. It could be Jill orchestrating this since his mind is barely functioning. This is soley my supposition… but I was an analyst in my previous life.
Here’s a five-bullet summary:
1. Smear Tactics: Harris attempts to label Trump as fascist to boost her campaign, despite lacking evidence.
2. Legal Targeting: Democrats, under Biden, coordinated legal actions against Trump, contrasting with Trump’s independent investigations into his own accusations.
3. Opposition from Within: Military leaders and officials allegedly acted to undermine Trump’s authority.
4. Voting and Power Moves: Democrats pushed election law changes and court-packing proposals to secure advantage.
5. Media Bias: Mainstream media and social platforms suppressed pro-Trump news, framing him as fascist to distract from Harris’s campaign issues.
This approach is classic projection. If Harris wins, I’ll stay and legally resist—it’s my duty to stand up against real fascism.
Thanks, Victor, for pointing out the Uniform Code of Conduct for generals & other military personnel. It immediately crossed my mind when these statements were made.
Aside from the illegality, these generals & other high-ranking officers seem to be angry about being fired or relieved of duty, whether for reasons of future employment, hubris or both.
It’s about time the ACTUAL fascism of the left, which is rampant, is exposed and contrasted with the ACTUAL absence of fascism of Donald Trump. No one better than VDH to do it. Wake up America.
“To honor the dead and forewarn the living”
STATUE OF THE UNKNOWN PRISONER
Dachau
Victor – Thank you for an excellent review of all the injustices done by the Left and its media.
The accumulation of lies, smear, and dirty tricks is near impossible to keep up with and your summary is very helpful.
P.S. All Americans need to read this article. If Leftist slander was the only reason to vote for Trump, then all Americans should do so now.
Traditional democrat voters can save this country by voting for Trump.
Make America Sane Again – Vote for Trump
There are times when every nation is in dire peril from without and sometimes from within. This feels like a time of civic division more serious than any seen since the mid-1800’s. Our national fabric is under assault by forces dedicated to the proposition of tyranny and fascism. While many elections have seemed hotly contested, especially national elections, this cycle has a dangerous feel to it. We are not a docile people yet rarely provoked to general violence. Another 2020 style paroxysm of rioting, violence, foment and turmoil may be a trigger point for a backlash unseen in decades, if not a century or more. It would not end well for us, and those who provoked such destruction. As Thomas Sowell wisely counseled: “once the dam breaks you can’t tell the water where to go”.
If Trump is Hitler and his followers Nazis, what are we to make of the original Hitler? This is essentially a form of Holocaust denial, which is in line with the “progressive” (regressive) agenda.
“I was raised in a middle class family…”
I sometimes point out that the Democrats label anyone they don’t like as a fascist and try to put them in jail, but the Allies never even bothered putting any actual Fascists on trial. We made them rebrand themselves for our domestic public consumption, but many kept their parliament seats. Sophia Loren’s sister married Mussolini’s youngest son, Benito’s granddaughter Rachelle Mussolini is the most popular politician on the Council of Rome, and his other granddaughter, Alessandra Mussolini, represents Italy in the European Parliament. In sum, zero prosecutions of Fascists, even ones who committed major war crimes.
There are many conservatives in politics that will NEVER do what’s ACTUALLY the right thing. (ie. Mike Johnson ) There are way to many of them that are still secretly bought off under the table with perks that they profit from both personally and for SOME of their big donors OR SOMEONE has them hostage from their dirty deeds. I think what we’re seeing with many of them starting to band together to “supposedly” support conservative values is mostly an illusion. IMO they are simply trying to create this illusion b/c if and when DJT should win the election they don’t want to find their heads on a chopping block of DJT’s DOJ. Same goes for many others in MSM and big tech .
They are ALL flat out guilty of various serious crimes and they know it.
IMO DJT absolutelyutely SHOULD task a new DOJ to investigate, gather the evidence ( which I’d bet money DJT and his potential DOJ prospects already have a ton of) , indict and PROSECUTE every single one of them . They are like cockroaches …. you MUST take out every last one when you clean house …. If you don’t get them all they will simply breed a new clan with a vendetta. It is also necessary because we need to send a CLEAR signal to future progressives of what happens when you go to far with your progressive agendas.
Thanks again Professor Hanson for another superb analysis. I am a simple person. Kamala Harris is perhaps an even more simple person. She has witnessed her boss for the. past nearly 4 years perform as President of the United States of America. She undoubtedly thought to herself, “Hell, I can do that job as well as he does.” She might be correct. I too could probably perform as well. Doesn’t mean anything except America would wind up as an inept, bankrupt, third world joke of a county. At least I know what a disaster I would be trying to be President. We don’t need Kamala or me. We need Donald J Trump to Make America Great again.
My comment is not nuanced. I’ll say clearly that at least half of all Americans need to see a squeaky clean election to accept the result.
So far, the “irregularities” that have been made public don’t seem to be large enough to change a swing state vote. The Dominion System “bug and patch” that makes voters think they did a straight line party vote but it doesn’t then select the down ballot party candidates is bad.
The patch Dominion is downloading is after their election system has been “certified and secured”. I was in the software business and this should never ever happen. WTF.
America and her CONSTITUTION are on the edge of a precipice! The main author of our Constitution wrote: “Freedom is not the natural state of mankind. Without a shield to protect individual rights and the strength to hold that shield in place, TYRANNY – the natural state of government – will inevitably return. ”
Fifty years ago, I took an oath to defend and protect our Constitution. I intend to defend it well and have the strength to hold it up against the usurpations of the demented democrats who have proven their desire to tear it to shreds.
We can not afford to be pushed over the edge! The walls of the chasm too steep and the depth of the abyss is too deep.
It is with a sense of pride that I accept the label of “Deplorable” and “Garbage” . I will continue to express the following: 1. Individuals loan political power to Government. And if Government breaches their fiduciary duty, the loan will be called in; 2. I will never let school stand in the way of my education; 3. I will never let church stand in my path to God; 4. If my religion, or my speech, or my expectation of Equal Protection Under the Law is to survive, then I must respect other’s religion, speech, and Protection Under the Law; and 5. For any Society to survive, there must be both unity of action and diversity of thoughts. All of these God given truths are within the legal framework of our Constitution, which I, as an attorney, have sworn to protect.
The proclivity of Harris to resort to extreme demagoguery has no corrective peer influence. McCarthy was blocked by members of his own party by the likes of Margaret Chase Smith and other courageous Republican colleagues of conscience.
By almost any metric, the Dems/leftists have shot themselves in their collective foot.
Any eye for an eye seems appropriate for such misfits and possibly necessary to avoid their penchant for projection and disorder. RICO Soros.
I have spent a lot of time trying to verify the news both about trump and Harris. The 34 charges on trump for what, supposed keeping bad records for business expenses,give me a break. Than the biden-harris admin pressuring social media to suppress Hunter computer stories, people like AOC, Kerry, saying 1 admendment is stopping them from doing everything they want to do. Harris flipping about gun control,fracking, but values haven’t changed. Lying to me. How joe pushed out and Harris appointed as candidate without facing voters or any challengers just like how she got senate seat. If Harris was running against any other person than trump she would be losing by 80 to 20 percent. Dems hoping TDS to get her elected. Everything Biden and Harris does is trying to buy votes. 3 billion to Maryland just this past week. Her wanting to give 25 grand to first time home buyers.
Dr. Hanson, I recommend that you read “Reckoning,” by Neal F. Thompson. You will see that McCarthy was not so far off the mark, and perhaps will stop vilifying him as the left does. Otherwise, fine article.
Thanks again Victor for an accurate summation of the many hateful and unwarranted attacks on former President Trump. At some point in the future, historians will ask how it was possible in the United States of American for the government to attack and try to destroy an individual who clearly has placed himself in harms way trying to save his country and its constitutional protections. They will want to know why so many citizens stood by when he needed help! You and I and members who follow you will be able to be separate from the cowards.
Walter Kirn: “Of course the DC establishment’s real problem with Trump is that he’s NOT Hitler.”
I was thrilled to meet you accidentally on Wednesday. I quoted some of this piece and linked it in this blog post today: https://ace.mu.nu/archives/412084.php